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George Laidlaw Recipient of the 2023 OMFA Volunteer of the Year Award George came from a musical family with his parents, both teachers, and sister all performing musicians. George began his musical studies on saxophone in Hanover, Ontario, with an old British band musician who was the elementary school custodian. After his lessons in the boiler-room, he would help mop school hall floors. He was encouraged to compete in the Owen Sound Kiwanis Music Festival and that is where he got hooked on performing. George was very fortunate when his parents moved to Barrie, Ontario. At that time Barrie Central Collegiate had the finest high school band program in the country. Through that experience he got to perform on the CBC radio, the Toronto Kiwanis Festival, EXPO 67 and the Parliament in Ottawa. His high school band was honoured by performing in Chicago for the American Band Masters Association. While in high school he started taking lessons on piano, saxophone and clarinet. He was very fortunate to study with Canadian virtuoso saxophonist Paul Brodie. He also studied seriously with the principal clarinetist of the National Ballet. He completed his grade 8 clarinet and grade 10 conservatory exams with honours before graduating from high school. He performed numerous times as a soloist in the Toronto Festival. He graduated from the University of Western Ontario in Honours Music Education in 1973. While attending Althouse Teachers’ College in 1973-1974, he was second clarinetist with Orchestra London. He completed his Master’s Degree in Music from the University of Michigan in 1983. During the covid pandemic, he began studying a new instrument, the flute, with Ingrid Crozman, often over the internet. While playing the musical Anne of Green Gables at the Grand Theatre, he met the head of music at Sir Frederick Banting Secondary School who then (1974) hired George to teach music at Banting S.S. and Orchard Park P.S. George spent the next five years running back and forth daily between schools each day. He spent the following twelve years teaching at Sir Wilfrid Laurier S.S., Arthur Stringer P.S. and Wilton Grove P.S. family of schools. The last part of his school teaching career was spent as Department Head of Music at Oakridge S.S. where he retired in 2004. George was awarded the Bishop Townshend Award for Teacher Excellence at his retirement. For twenty summers he taught at the InterProvincial Music Camp near Parry Sound, Ontario. Upon retirement George spent another decade teaching saxophone and clarinet part-time at Western University. He spent a total of 43 years teaching in schools. Over the years he also had several private students who went on to become music educators. He presently has only one private student - an 80-year-old retiring doctor. While at Oakridge S.S., George produced numerous musicals with Art Fiddler, including West Side Story, Crazy For You, The Wiz and Jesus Christ Super Star. The students continued to participate each year in the Kiwanis Music Festival, sometimes in the Provincial Finals, and in several international festivals including New York, Chicago, Annapolis and Cleveland. For a decade, Oakridge S.S. hosted the MusicFest Regional Competitions. George has played in symphony orchestras, jazz bands, Stratford Theatre and did some professional recording gigs as well. He has adjudicated at festivals in London, Toronto and St. Thomas. For twenty years he was the leader of the Prime Time Big Band which made three recordings. For twenty years he has been the volunteer leader and organizer of the Vimy Legion Band which performs for the biannual fundraising dinners. George presently performs with several community bands, including the Bandemic Big Band, Encore Concert Band, MusicMakers Little Big Band and the New Modernaires Big Band. George also volunteers to sing with the Riverside United Church Choir where he serves on the property committee. George also enjoys classical and jazz chamber music. He has organized many groups to perform at churches and community dinners. Prior to joining the Kiwanis Music Festival Board of Directors in 1996, George was involved with music selection for bands and jazz bands. George joined the Kiwanis Club of London at the same time that he became a member of the Music Festival Board of Directors. He and Gillian provide the musical entertainment for the Kiwanis Club Christmas meetings. He has been a Hall Manager for the larger halls where the bands, choirs and orchestras perform with his wife’s help for about 20 years. He has helped to organize the Stars of the Festival Gala Concerts for over 20 years. He works behind the scenes with scheduling the large school ensembles. He also volunteered from his home during Covid doing scheduling tasks in Google Drive. Holding the New Growth Opportunities portfolio, George has introduced new Sections into the Festival, including youth with Special Needs, Musical Futures, Popular Music, Musical Theatre and establishing the London Festival as a qualifying festival for MusicFest Canada. George and his wife, Gillian, have been married for 43 years and have two children (both very musical) and two grandchildren (too early to tell). For many reasons, I am pleased and proud to put forward the nomination of George Laidlaw as a winner of the 2023 OMFA Volunteer of the Year Award. The award was unanimously approved by all music festival representatives present. Charlotte Cleland |
This award was announced at the 2023 Annual General Meeting of the Ontario Music Festivals Association. This is the citation presented at the time of the award.